Name
Henry (Harry) George
2 May 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/06/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
13616
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD (HEATH LANE) CEMETERY
W. 27.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Boxmoor
Pre War
Henry George (also known as Harry) was born at his Uncle Tom's home at 56 Cotterells, Hemel Hempstead, Herts on 2 May 1894 the son of Emma George, and was baptised on 23 November 1894 at St Paul's Church, Hemel Hempstead. His mother working as a charwoman when he was born and had previous been a Straw Plaiter. His father is not known.
He was looked after by his grandmother and aunts and on the 1901 Census he was living with his grandmother, Mary George, who was receiving 'Parish Relief' and aunts, Sarah and Elizabeth George, at 29 Chapel Street, Hemel Hempstead. At the same time his mother was a live-in servant at The Three Gables, Hemel Hempstead, the home of Cecil Sanguinetti, the Managing Director of the British Paper Company at Frogmore Mill, and his family. Emma remained working there in 1911, but 16 year old Henry was then living with his Uncle Thomas George, Aunt Priscilla and cousin Nellie at 56 Cotterells Road, Hemel Hempstead and working as a General Labourer at the paper mill.
He was still working at Frogmore Mill at the time of his enlistment, which is where he may have met his sweetheart Winnie Carpenter who worked in the envelope department.
After his death, the local newspaper reported that he had been an active member of Boxmoor church and the Church of England Temperance Society (CETS). It was said he was a cheerful and popular young man, helping out with events such as concerts and social functions and that he made a host of friends at Frogmore Mills, where he was 'esteemed and respected by all'.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford in August 1914 and initially joined the 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. On completion of training at Landguard Camp, Felixstowe, he was transferred to the 1st Battalion before arriving in France on 24 March 1915.
According to the local newspaper, the Battalion were near Ypres at Hill 60 when Henry was hit by shrapnel in early May. He spent two weeks in hospital in Boulogne before being repatriated to the Colchester Military Hospital in Essex, where he was expected to recover. Sadly his condition deteriorated and despite an emergency operation to amputate his leg, he died of his wounds on 5 June 1915.
He was buried at Hemel Hempstead (Heath Lane) Cemetery after a funeral service at Boxmoor Church attended by what the newspaper reported as "a large number of friends, including practically the whole of the employees of the British Paper Co. (Frogmore Mills)," Four of his workmates carried his coffin.
Additional Information
His mother received a £3 war gratuity and pay owing of £6 9s 9d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk., www.hemelheroes.com.,
